ARS

FMD is the one of the most feared viral disease that can affect livestock, including swine. Although this disease appeared to be eliminated from most developed nations by the end of last century, recent outbreaks in Europe, Japan, Taiwan, South…

The identification and validation of a humane method to euthanize piglets is critical to address the public’s concern that current methods are not acceptable. Blunt force trauma procedure is humane when carried out correctly, but most people find it aesthetically…

PRRS causes major economic losses to the US pig industry, as reflected in debilitating respiratory syndromes, major reproductive losses and unthrifty piglets; economic losses were calculated to be $642 million per year in 2011. Worldwide, PRRS affects pigs at all…

To ensure high eating quality of pork, the industry has relied on “enhancing” the product by pumping it with a solution of phosphates, salt and sometimes flavorings. This approach has been relatively successful, however, there are growing indications that the…

Porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) is a multifactorial disease process with a variety of infectious agents contributing to disease. The complex cannot be simply explained as infection with multiple pathogens as other factors, such as immune status and management practices…

Energetics will continue to be of great importance to the swine industry because energy contributes a significant expense to feed which contributes more than 60% of pig production costs. Changes in the corn milling industry are improving the quality and…

Application of enzymes in an effort to improve nutrient digestibility of plant-based feed ingredients for swine and poultry has been studied for decades. Essentially, an enzyme(s) must match the target substrate(s) in a feedstuff which have been shown to have…

Trichinella spiralis and Toxoplasma gondii are important zoonotic parasites, occurring in warm blooded animals and humans worldwide. Among domesticated food animals, domestic pigs and wild carnivores are hosts for Trichinella, while pigs, chickens, sheep, and goats are known to be…

Epidemics of severe swine disease, termed “Porcine High Fever Disease (PHFD)”, continue to be reported in Southeast Asia, and a specific strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been identified as the primary pathogen in these epidemics.…

Keeping pigs healthy and productive is a major goal for producers and researchers. Preventing disease, using biosecurity and planned vaccinations, are hallmarks of well-managed swine facilities. In the case of disease outbreaks, diagnostic laboratories use an array of tests to…